Means for starting internal-combustion engines.



J. DESMON D.

MEANS FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1913.

1,108,720. Pa ented Aug.25,191&

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

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J. DESMOND,

MEANS FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILIII) JAN. 3, I013 Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

2 SHEETS HEET 2 o nTATES PATENT onnin.

JOHN DESMONIO, OF VJILMETTE; ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM S. POTWIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

" MEANS FOR s'ranrnve INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed January a, 1513.

To all 00. mm it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN DEsMoNn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilmette, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Starting Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for starting internal combustion engines.

()ne of the objects of my invention is to provide a-relatively small internal combustion engine which is capable of being easily and conveniently started by manual means; for starting a larger and more powerful engine of a similar character.

Another object of my invention is to provide a manually operable means, preferably a foot lever, for initially rotating the shaft of the smaller engine in the process of start ing said engine and means operable by said manually operable means to cause driving connection to be established between said smaller engine and said larger engine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a disengaging means for said driving connection, which is automatically moved to disengaging position when the larger engine becomes self-propelling and an associated automaticallyoperable means to move effectually separate the members of the driving connection after the initial separation has been accomplished by operation of the larger engine.

A nether object of my invention is to pro vide, in a manually operable means, a means for starting the smaller engine and for initiating the engaging operation of the mem bers of the driving connection.

Other and further objects of my inyention will become readily apparent to persons skilled 111 the art from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein Figure l is a plan view of a portion of an internal combustion engine as it is applied to an automobile, showing the smaller or starting engine associated therewith; Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation, part in section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the driving Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 25, 1914.

Serial No. 740,052.

connection between the two engines, showing the shaft of the smaller engine and several of the other parts in section; and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the means for simultaneously controlling the electric igniting circuit and the fuel supply of the smaller engine.

In all the views the same reference characters are employed to designate similar parts. In the particular exemplification which 1 have chosen for a clear disclosure of my invention, 10-10 are the side members of the frame of gill] automobilestructure. Upon these side-frame members an engine 11 is mounted in the usual manner. This engine is assumedto representan internal combustion engine which is not self starting, and is the motoreemployed for propelling the vehicle. It is provided with a fly Wheel 12, having a friction clutch member 13 secured to the driving shaft 1.4 for connection to the running gear of the vehicle. Cut into one side of the peripheral surface of the fly wheel is a worm gear 15.- As the fly wheel is permanently associated--with the engine shaft 16, the worm gear thereof will constitute one member of the driving connection. The engine ll-is provided with the usual carbureter 17 connected to the usual intake manifold 18 by means of the pipe oonnection 19. The manifold is connected to the cylinders 20, 21, 22,-a'nd 23, of the engine in the usual manner. An exhaust manifold 24 is also connected to. said cylinders in the usual manner.

With the exception of the worm gear 15 which is cut into the periphery of fly wheel 12, the structure which I have described is in common use in automobiles.

It is common practice, to start the engine, such as the engine 11, by application of a crank arm to the main shaft 16 applied to the front end of the automobile by manually rotating the crank arm until the engine becomes self propelling. Such a means is crude and highly inconvenient. It is desirable to start the propelling engine from the seat of the driver. It is also desirable that the act of starting the engine shall require minimum exertion on the part of the driver and that the operation shall be automatic after the application of necessary power or pressure to initiate the movement of the starting means.

Inasmuch as the larger engine, which is used to propel the vehicle, employs gasolene or similar fluid as a fuel, and furtherirgore inasmuch as this type of engine is usually understood by the chauffeurs and operators of such vehicles, it is very desirable to employ an engine-or motor of a similar type but of smaller dimensions and power requiring a minimum of exertion on the part of the chauffeurs or drivers to start it for the purpose of starting the larger engine, and to this end I employ a smaller engine 25 which for convenience may be air cooled, as its operative employment is limited to a very short period of time, and I associate this engine with the larger engine in such manner that it will automatically connect itself to the larger engine after the operator or chauffeur has rotated the shaft 26 of the smaller engine, as by means of a foot pedal 27, and as soon as the smaller engine 25 becomes self-propelling. The means which I provide for this purpose causes the smaller engine to automatically connect itself to the larger engine after the initiation of such operation has been effected by the operator. Means are provided whereby, after the larger engine has become self-propelling by the forcible rotation of its shaft by means of the smaller engine, the larger engine will disconnect itself from the smaller engine and potentiate the con necting means ready for a repetition of the connecting operation. To this end I eX- tend the shaft 26 of the smaller engine 25 tangentially of the fly wheel 12 for the larger engine 11, and provide an outboard bearing 28 on a stationary part of the structure, for the extended end of said shaft. I provide a spline 29 in the shaft 26, and place a feather 30 in the bore of the worm 31, so that by this means worm 31 may be freely moved longitudinally of the shaft 26 but is positively rotatable therewith. An open spiral spring 32 surrounds the shaft 26 and normally presses the worm 31 toward the worm wheel 15. Means for holding the worm 31. in retracted position, out of engagement with the worm wheel 15, is provided in the automatic stop device 33 com-- prising a wire preferablv having a resilient turn, as at 34, and secured to the relatively stationary bearing 28, as at 35, by screws 36 and 37. A shoulder is provided in the wire, as at 39, for engagement with the outer edge of the worm 31. is inclined downwardly, as at 39, for purnoses to be hereinafter described, The wire is extended in a direction generally parallel with the shaft 26 and then vertically as at 40, and'terminates as at 41 in the path of the segmental geared rack of the foot pedal lever 27. The wire 33 has considerable resilient tension effected by the spring turn 34 which tends normally-to maintain it in This shoulderv the elevated position shown in dotted lines at 42.

A quadrant lever, comprising an arm 43 which terminates in the pedal 27 and an arm 44 between which and the arm 43 is connected a segment of a gear wheel or a rack 45, is pivoted as at 46 to a stationary .part of the frame, as at 47. A spring 48 is secured to the arm 49 and normally holds the parts substantially in the positions shown in Fig. 3, with the pedal elevated in position for application of foot pressure by the operator.

Secured to the shaft 26 of the small engine 25 is a ratchet wheel 49, and loose on the said shaft is a gear pinion or wheel 50 which constantly in mesh with the rack 45 of the foot operable lever. A dog 51 is pivoted to the wheel 50 and normally engages the teeth on the ratchet wheel 49 so that the shaft 26 will be rotated in clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 3, by means of the gear wheel 50, through the connection of the dog 51, when the pedal lever 27 is depressed. The spring 48 serves as a means normal position, at which time the pinion 50 will be freely rotatable on the shaft 26. A pipe 53 connects the cylinder of the smaller engine 25 with the carbureter l7, and a pipe-54 connects the exhaust port of the smaller engine with the exhaust manifold 24 of the larger engine.

A valve is located in the pipe 54 to normally close the said pipe when the smaller engine is not in operation, and a rod 56 is connected to the pedal lever, as at 57, and to the valve 55, as at 58, so that the initial operation of the pedal 27 at the time when it is being depressed for the purpose of starting the smaller engine, will, through the instrumentality of rod 56, open the valve 55 so that the small engine may exhaust through the pipe 54 and into the manifold 24. This connection 54 between the smaller to automatically return the pedal to its 1 engine and the manifold I deem it advisable of the smaller engine are required forths purpose of starting the larger engine. 'I operatejthis valve by means of a handle 60; normally held in position shown in Fig. 5 against the stop 61 by means of the spring 62, in which position the valve is closed and the electric igniting circuit for the smaller engine is open. lVhen it is desirable to admit fuel into the cylinder of the smaller engine from the carbureter 17, I move the handle 60 to the position to open the valve and to cause the electric blade 63 to make electrical contact with the switch clips 67 which is located on the insulating base 65. A wire 66 is connected to the switch clip 67 and is the wire of the igniting device for the smaller engine. The igniting circuit of the small engine is closed during the time when the handle 60 is held in position, to provide a spark for the smaller engine at the appropriate time. l'Vhen the services of the smaller engine may be dispensed with, as when the larger engine has been started, the handle 60 is released, whereupon the spring 62 will automatically draw it into normal position against stop 61 and thereby close the valve 59 and open the electric ignition circuit between the blade 63 and the clip 67, this operation will have no modifying efiect whatever upon the larger engine.

The operation of the device is as follows: Pressure is applied to the pedal 27 and a vigorous active impulse imparted, through the rack 45and the wheel 50, to the shaft 26 of the smaller engine. 27 strikes the end ll of the automatic stop 33 considerable resistance is encountered and pressure on the pedal may be thereafter released preliminarily to the application of another impulse to accelerate the speed of the shaft of the smaller engine. Spring 48 will return thepedal to its normal position after pressure of the foot has been withdrawn from the pedal and other impulses may be applied to the shaft 26 in a similar manner until it becomes self-propelling. Before the pressure is applied to the pedal, however, the valve handle 60, controlling the ignition and fuel supply of the small engine is moved to its position opposite to that shown in Fig. 5, against the resiliency of the spring.

62, thereby opening the valve 59 in the pipe 53 and permitting an explosive mixture to flow into the combustion chamber of the smaller engine, and at the same time closing the electric ignition circuit by the switch blade 63, making electrical contact with the when it is noticed that the small engine has relatively stationary switch clip 67. Now become self-propelling, the foot lever 27 may be further depressed until it makes contact with the end 41 of the automatic stop 33. When sufficient pressure has been applied to the foot lever the stop will be forced somewhat lower than the position shown in Fig. 4:, when the worm 31 on the shaft 26 will be released,-the spring 32 will cause the worm to engage the teeth on the worm wheel 15 of the larger engine, and a continualrotation' of the shaft 26 and the When the pedal worm 31 will cause the worm to press against the thrust bearing 28 and to rotate the wheel 15 of the larger engine as shown in Fig. 2. As soon as the larger engine becomes self-propelling, the worm wheels-15 will push the worm 31 along the shaft 26 toward disengaging position until the inner edge of the worm 31 engages the shoulder 39 of the automatic stop, and the part 39, being inclined as shown in Fig. 4, will push the worm 31 farther toward the smaller ongine and thus make a greater separation between the members of the connecting device of the respective engines as shown in dotted lines inFig. 4:. At the same time, the end etl of the automatic stop device 33 will be raised by the resiliency of the device itself into the position shown in Fig. 3 for reengagement of the pedal lever. After driving connection between the two engines has thus been disconnected, the smaller engine may be stopped by releasing the handle 60 of the valve 59, at which time the spring 62 will automatically return the handle and other parts tothe positions shown in Fig. 5, and the electric igniting circuit of the smaller engine will be open at the same time that the valve in the pipe 53 is closed.

\Vhile I have herein described a single embodiment of my invention for the purpose of clear disclosure, it is evident that many changes may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims and without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is: v

1. In a device of the character described, an engine to be started, a starting engine to I be manually started, connecting means between the two engines, normally disconnected, comprising a worm wheel on the larger engine, and a worm slidably mounted on the shaft of the smaller engine; a spring for moving the worm into connection with an automatic stop for out of connection with said wheel; a lever for rotating the shaft of the smaller engine and for moving said automatie stop to release said worm.

2. In a device of the character described, an engine to be started, a starting engine to be manually. started, connecting means between the two engines, normally disconnected, means for starting the smaller engine, comprising a lever movable for rotating the shaft thereof; and means, operable by a further movement of said lever, for effecting the engagement of said connecting means.

3. In .a device of the character described, an engine to be started; a starting engine to be manually started; connecting means between the two engines, normally disconnected; means for starting the starting engine, comprising a lever movable for rotating the shaft therof; and means, within said worm wheel; holding said worm the path of said lever upon its further movement, for initiating the connecting operation of said connecting means.

4. In a device of the character described, an engine to be started; a starting engine to be manually started; connecting means between the two engines, normally disconnected; means for starting the starting engine and for operating said connecting means; fuel supply and charge igniting means to which the engine to be started is connected; manually operable means for connecting the starting engine to said fuel supply and igniting means; and means for automatically disconnecting said starting engine from the'engine to be started after the latter has become self-propelling.

5. In a device of the character described, a larger engine to be started; a smaller starting engine, manually operable means for starting the small engine; connecting means between the two engines initiated to connect the engines together by the manually operable starting means, said connecting mean adapted to be disconnected when the larger engine becomes self-propelling; and automatic means for efiecting a further separation of the parts of the connecting means and to hold said connecting parts so disconnected.

-6. In a device of the character described, a larger engine to be started; a smaller engine to be manually started; connecting means between the two engines, normally disconnected, comprising a worm wheel on the first mentioned engine, and a worm on the second mentioned engine; a spring on the shaft of the second engine for moving said worm into connection with said worm wheel; movable means for holding the said worm out of engagement with said worm wheel when it has been so moved by said worm wheel against the action of said spring; and means for starting the smaller engine and releasing said holding means.

7. In a device of the character described, an engine to be started; a starting engine to be manually started; connecting means between the two engines normally disconnected; means for starting the starting engine comprising a foot operable treadle provided with a rack, and a pinion on the shaft of the starting engine engaged thereby, a pawl-and-ratehet connection between the said pinion and the shaft of the starting engine; means for returning the foot pedal to normal position after cessation of the impulse applied thereto for rotating the shaft of the starting engine; and means, operable by the movement of the foot pedal, for connecting the two engines together in driving relation.

8. In-a device of the character described, an internal combustion power engine to be started; a carbureter; a conduit leading therefrom to the engine to conduct fuel; thereto; a starting engine, to start the power 7 engine, having a fuel conduit leadin therefrom to said carbureter; a switch or con trolling an electric ignition circuit for the starting engine; a valve for controlling the fuel supply for said starting engine; means for coincidentally moving the said valve and said switch to close said circuit and open said valve, and automatic means to return said switch and valve-operating means to normal position. 7

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of an internal combustion engine; an auxiliary starting motor; connecting means, between the engine and motor adapted to be disconnected when the engine becomes self-propelling;=a spring, normally tending to hold the said connecting means in operative position; and a second spring manually operable for permit ting the operation of the said connecting means and automatically operable for elfecting a further separation of the parts of the connecting means, and to hold said parts so disconnected.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DESMOND.

In the presence of Fomin BAIN, MARY F. ALLEN. 

